The copper garden....

I have a thing for beautiful outdoor furniture and sculptures and water features. Whenever my mother, who has the most beautiful of gardens, used to take us to the plant nursery on the way home I would enjoy wandering around under the cool shade cloth looking at the fountains and beautiful bronze artworks created especially for outdoor settings.

When I came across these beautiful copper pieces by French sculptor and jewelery designer Claude Lalanne (1927-current) I was inspired. I especially like his takes on lily pads and other leaves. The furniture you see here is actually functional and life size. The only trouble is having to polish it and keep it shiny!

Claude was born in 1927 in France and studied painting, drawing and sculpture in Paris. He has had countless exhibitions around the world and his work is housed in museums and private collections internationally. Claude often works in conjunction with his wife sculptor François Xavier-Lalanne to whom he has been married to since 1956 and whose forté is life-like animal sculptures.

If you are interested in his work, his jewellery is available from Louisa Guinness Gallery and his larger furniture from a number of galleries as well as on Artnet.

I cannot help ....

Image: Pixdaus via B come Boh

..... but feel for this goldfish.

Textures in interiors

Here's another lovely post from Karina Of El Beso blog fame. I'm especially taken by the rough wooden floors and the painted brick work - see below how they have painted only the edge of the bricks and have left the rest of the wall exposed. I love the edgy warehouse feel to this place with the splashes of colour and a mixture of textures - bricks, plastics, woods and fabrics. My kind of home.

Karina writes......

Jorge Mazzinghi was the architect who restored this old terrace house which is an oasis in the middle of Buenos Aires city. The owners then decorated it with an eclectic style mixing old and new furniture, and using contrasting materials like red acrylic chairs, a beautiful wood table and antique and vintage furniture sourced from San Telmo Flea market.

Eclectic style is very interesting but it is can be difficult to work with, but in this house it is extremely well done. (ATBAB's note - I totally agree:-)

Via Diario Perfil

Interiors and fashion by Miles Aldridge

I'm loving the whimsical mix of interiors and fashion by photographer Miles Aldridge. I can imagine wafting down the hallways in those beautiful cream ball gowns but don't think I could really do the dishes in that purple number below. Actually I'd probably trip over the cat in those platform shoes!!

I'd use the flowers on that lamp above in my hair and if you need some help with some boudoiresque eyemuffs I think these ones above are rather inspirational.

Miles Aldridge and Vogue Italia May 2008 via photo_decadent

Richard Bailey and Australian Vogue

Australian Vogue

Photographer:Richard Bailey

I'm rather loving these dark but beautiful Victorian style fashion photographs from Australian Vogue, photographed by Richard Bailey. I can't decide which one is my favorite - I think they're all stunning, its the flowery head pieces I think!.

I would love to know the location of where they were taken!

Also, these are best in small format - I've seen them in bigger - but they're not as clear.

Have a great weekend!

Image courtesy Fiat 500|The Best Car